Last updated: Monday 21 March 2022  

Click the links for more info:

Veg scheme updates 

Farmers' market updates

Volunteering at our growing sites 

How we're keeping you safe

 

 

Veg scheme arrangements

Sign up to join the veg scheme here. If you have any questions, email the veg scheme team.

We've extended the collection hours at St John of Jerusalem. Check out the new times here.

Covid safety

To keep you, other veg scheme members and our staff as safe as possible, please continue to maintain social distance and wear a face covering when collecting your bags from enclosed spaces, including the staffed collections at the Old Fire Station and Hackney City Farm.

Don't want your bags?
Our Food Credit Scheme is by far the best way to donate your bags. It's more effective and less wasteful than leaving unwanted bags at your collection point. The money goes into a central pot, then we deliver fresh, organic produce when and where it’s needed directly from GC HQ, usually to Hackney Food Bank. Book a week off or a donation here.

Collection point information
Check your weekly emails for information about changes to collection arrangements. Log into your account to check your padlock code.

If you are a member of the veg scheme and need to contact us, please email us

Want to sign up to our scheme?

Fill in our joining form here.

 

 

Farmers' market

Market is open every Saturday 10am - 2.30pm

Check our main Market page to see who will be there this week.

If you'd like to receive weekly email updates about the farmers' market and other GC activities, please use the Subscribe to our mailing list box at the bottom of this page.

 

 

Volunteering at our growing sites

To volunteer at our Hackney market gardens, email us to join the waiting list. Our grower Sophie will be in touch to book you in when a slot is available. We no longer accept walk-ins. You might also want to check out Capital Growth's  list of London gardens that usually welcome volunteers.

Many Hackney parks welcome volunteers for litter picking, tree planting and other activities, many of which take place at weekends. Contact Sam Parry to be added to the parks mailing list.

We are unable to offer volunteering at our Dagenham Farm as we do not have enough staff and resources, but we're hoping to have good news on that in spring 2022. Watch this space or click here to receive occasional email updates with news from the farm.

 

GC’s heightened hygiene precautions 

Growing Communities staff are working hard to protect our members, market customers, ourselves and our families from the Covid-19 virus  

We’ve been taking extra precautions in our packing and delivery operations to minimise the risk of transmitting the virus.

Veg packing: All staff have been trained in Coronavirus hygiene. All staff wash hands before the pack starts and wear gloves while packing. Staff know not to touch their faces or phones during the packing. All staff wash hands according to official public health guidelines before and after eating or any breaks. We have minimised staff in the office.

Veg delivery: The delivery van is cleaned when drivers change over and delivery staff have been trained in how to minimise the potential for virus transmission. 

Market: Stallholders offer cardless transactions wherever possible. 

Our farm and growing sites: Our growers are washing hands and tools regularly, cleaning gloves frequently and have been trained in Coronavirus hygiene. 

Please wash all fruit and veg before use as usual.